I have a wide range of interests, including Philosophy, Religion, Travel,
Biography, History and Languages but singing was the basis of my initial career.
I hold a B.A. in Pre-Law Business Administration/Modern Foreign Languages/Voice.
My M.A. is in the Humanities (French and Voice). My Ph.D. is in French
Literature, from the Sorbonne (Paris).

A desire to serve humanity compelled me to give up my 22-year operatic career
as a leading baritone and return to the pulpit as a cantor. I was ordained a
rabbi in 1997 and specialize in pre-marital counseling, pastoral counseling,
drug-and-alcohol counseling, and chaplaincy. I officiate at Jewish, Interfaith,
Civil and nondenominational weddings. Should you wish to contact me, I can be
reached by email at: Allen@RabbiAllen.com.

As a singer, my vocal studies have been with Richard Miller, William Vennard,
Josephine Lott, Herbert Janssen, Berton Coffin, and Armen Boyajian. During my
twenty-two year international operatic career, I sang some twenty-eight leading
baritone operatic roles. I competed in and won the following competitions:

I am a member, in good standing, International Federation of Rabbis, the
Modern Language Association, the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS)
U.S., the Voice Foundation and the American Conference of Cantors.

September 1961 - June 1962: Doctorate in French Literature,
University of Paris (Sorbonne); Thesis: Le Diable chez Balzac; Ecole Normale Supérieure de
Musique Study with Pierre Bernac in the interpretation of Opera and Lieder

Graduate Study:

September 1960 - June 1961: Master of Arts - Humanities; Cross-disciplines:
French Literature and Music - Voice

Undergraduate:

September 1957 - June 1960: Bachelor of Arts, University of Buffalo; Majors:
Pre-Law-Business Administration, Modern Foreign Languages, Voice

As a recitalist, I have sung in eight languages. A member of
the National Association of Teachers of Singing, I have been asked to adjudicate
at the NATS national conventions in 1986 and 2000. I am active in giving Master
Classes. I have taught private studio voice, specializing in both vocal
technique and coaching. Languages, sung and coached: French, German, Italian,
Spanish, Czech, Yiddish, Hebrew and Ladino. In addition, since 1985, after
studying with Morton Cooper, Ph.D., Speech Pathologist, I have been receiving
referrals from him to work with voice rehabilitation patients.

"Few singers today can project the four languages heard last night with
anything like Allen's excellent nuance and clarity, resonance and enunciation.
He offers much satisfaction."
- Paul Hume, Washington (D.C.) Post

"His ample and lustrous baritone is seamless and silky. Richard Allen
has intelligent, suave and comprehensible diction, with a high class and
necessary choice of repertoire."
- Ned Rorem, leading American composer

"Richard Allen is the possessor of a beautiful voice
which has a
beautiful timbre and is even throughout the vocal line. He sings with authority,
intelligence and an actor's temperament."
- Le Soir, Brussels

".....he has a voice which is naturally and extremely expressive. In
addition, he has a striking actor's personality."
- La Presse, Brussels

"The highlight of the evening came with the stunning performance of
Richard Allen. He possesses a powerful voice and an overpowering stage
presence."
- Honolulu Star-Bulletin

The Marriage of Figaro:
"As Almaviva, his formidable baritone easily conquered Mozart's vocal
requirements. I regret not having seen his Scarpia, Tabor and Germont with the
company."
- Vincent, High Fidelity/Musical America

Tosca:
"Allen's Scarpia was a study in restrained evil. A portrayal painted in
human overtones and inhuman undertones. With his powerful voice and
understanding of dramatic nuance, Scarpia's second act cantilena, 'Già mia
struggea' was one of the finest moments I've heard from the operatic
stage."
- Price, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle

Fiddler on the Roof:"The cast was lead by the splendid singing and acting of Richard Allen. He
made the evocation of life in the shtetl at once endearing and sad. Mr. Allen
was Tevye in every sense.
- Green, Musical Heritage Society